Notes From the Director

NFB-NEWSLINE

NFB-NEWSLINE is now available toll-free, nationwide. The first week of the new service has been bumpy; however, we hope everything will be smoothed out by the time you read this newsletter.

NFB-NEWSLINE is a telephone service that provides an audio version of newspapers from across the country using digital technology and a synthesized voice. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All registered Wolfner Library readers are eligible for NFB-NEWSLINE. If you are already a NEWSLINE subscriber, your codes will continue to work on the new system. If you would like to sign up for NFB-NEWSLINE, have forgotten your codes, or need further information, call 1-800-392-2614.

Friends of Wolfner Library

The annual meeting of the Friends of Wolfner Library will be held in Jefferson City at the Coke Community Room, 605 Washington St., on Saturday, April 20th from 1 to 4 pm. The Coke Community Room is on the southeast corner of Washington and Elm. Margot McMillen, author of Paris, Tightwad, and Peculiar; Missouri Place Names, will be the guest speaker.

2002 National Conference of Librarians: "Our Digital World: A Leap to the Future"

Wolfner Library will be well represented at the National Conference of Librarians Serving Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals in Richmond, Virginia. Nancy Doering will attend a pre-conference workshop on "Children's Services." Nancy was asked to present Wolfner's exemplary summer reading program to the workshop participants. Deborah Stroup will attend a pre-conference on "The Art of Audio Book Production." Debbie Musselman was asked to present to the conference goers Wolfner's outreach program, "Take a Talking Book", so other states can replicate this successful program. Feel free to call me with any questions or comments you would like these representatives to take to the conference. Your input into the National Library Service is always welcomed.

Richard J. Smith, Director

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Thank You!

Thanks to the following people who helped deliver the "Take a Talking Book" public service announcements to radio and television stations throughout Missouri. We appreciate your willingness to help spread the word about Wolfner Library services.

Delores Johnson, Jim Kauffman, Ruby Polk, Leroy Welch, Shelia Wright, Phyllis Lovett, Bill and Linda Burris, Darlene Staples-Felts, Eujean Dody, June Lenk, Phyllis Zirkle, Dennis Miller, Chuck Kirksey, and Dale Stroup.

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New Recommended Reading Lists Available

The following mini-bibliographies have been produced since the last newsletter was released.

If you would like to receive a copy of any of these recommended readings, please call the library at 1-800-392-2614, write us a note, or, if you'd like to join Wolfner's electronic distribution list, send us an e-mail at wolfner@sos.mo.gov. They can also be viewed on our web site; just search for "Wolfner" using your favorite search engine.

General Reading
Books by Women of Color
For Pet's Sake
Journeys
Motivational Picks from a Motivational Speaker

Nonfiction
Alzheimer's Disease Awareness
Stage and Screen Stars from the 50's and 60's
Travel Adventures

Holiday Reading
Christmas Mysteries
Heartwarming Holiday Reading
Paul's Christmas Picks

Romance
Classic Romance
Time Travel Romance

Humor
When It's Laughter You're After

Westerns
Frontier and Pioneer Life

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Carol's Magazine Corner

Are you interested in the financial world? If so, maybe you'd like to sign up for one, or both, of the cassette magazines listed below. Just call Wolfner Library at 1-800-392-2614.

Forbes focuses on business news such as industry development, company activities and economic trends. It also offers investment tips.

Barron's contains corporate evaluations, financial columns, and a complete listing of economic indicators and market results.

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It's Going to Be a Mysterious Summer

It's that time again. Time for the summer reading program. The theme is "Mysterious Summer." And there's a new twist this summer-not just two, but three divisions from which to choose. Readers may choose the preschool, elementary or young adult program, depending on the type of books they like to read. In the preschool division, little ones may read themselves or be read to by someone, such as a parent, grandparent, older sibling, or friend. And the first 100 youth to register will receive a cool, temporary tattoo. For more information, contact Nancy Doering, Youth Services Librarian, at 800-392-2614.

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Need Money? Read This First!

Have you heard those advertisements that offer money for your "clean" car title? Or how about the ones that say "Bad Credit!" "No Credit!" "No Problem!"?

Have you ever thought about using these services? Maybe you've thought it's too good to be true? The truth is you can very easily end up losing your car, your personal possessions or even your home and, on top of it all, ruin your credit.

Predatory lending has become such a widespread practice there are many bills being introduced at both the state and federal level to help control this problem.

There are numerous ways a lender fraudulently lends money to an unsuspecting individual. The most common abuse occurs in home equity, home improvement, and second mortage loans and contain one or more of the following characteristics:

High costs - unusually high costs such as points, origination and other fees.

High interest rates - while the higher interest rates charged by some lenders are intended to compensate lenders for taking a greater credit risk, too many borrowers are unnecessarily paying higher interest rates. Borrowers with perfect credit are regularly charged interest rates 3 to 6 points higher than the market rates

Financing insurance - homeowner's insurance is typical, life insurance or other types of insurance are not, and should be a red flag.

Balloon payments - this type of payment allows for lower monthly payments, but require a lump sum of the entire balance at a future date.

High monthly payments - initially done so that the individual can't meet the payments and the bank can foreclose.

Purchase of unneeded repairs - financing repairs can be expensive, so only do what is necessary.

These practices are usually associated with home equity, home improvement and second mortgage loans, but predatory lenders can strike on any type of loan, in any amount. They make their profit from these loans in much the same way, but some other "tricks" they use are:

Flipping - repeated refinancing of the loan by rolling the balance of the existing loan into a new loan instead of making a separate loan for the new amount.

Forgeries - some predatory lenders forge documents leaving the homeowners with loans they know nothing about.

Home improvement scams - predatory mortgage lenders use local home improvement companies essentially as mortgage brokers to solicit business.

For many people, owning a home is the ultimate American dream, unfortunately there are lending institutions which have no qualms about using unethical practices that can destroy this dream. Usually the targets are individuals with poor credit, the elderly and the disabled. There are things you can do to put a stop to predatory lenders:

1. Shop around and contact at least three lending institutions to compare interest rates and loan options.
   
2. Understand exactly how much the entire loan will cost.
   
3. Make sure the loan fees are reasonable.
   
4. Read the entire loan document and check it for accuracy.
   
5. Resist the pressure to sign if you don't feel you can afford the loan.

If you feel you have been the victim of a predatory lender, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877-382-4357 or visit their website at www.ftc.gov for more information or to file a complaint. You may also contact the Fannie Mae Foundation for a free guide on Borrowing Basics. Their toll free number is 800-605-7100.

Reprinted with permission from Bridges, the newsletter of the Governor's Council on Disability.

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Student Aid Available

The United States Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, is making efforts to ensure visually impaired and hearing impaired individuals have full access to information about their federal student loan, grant, and work-study programs.

A compact disc, Student Aid Audio Guide, is available to anyone who wants it. It can be played on any audio CD player, and contains information on student aid programs, application procedures, eligibility criteria, loan repayment options, deferment and cancellation provisions, and non-federal resources. Student aid information publications are also available in braille.

The toll-free Federal Student Aid Information Center number is 1-800-433-3243. There are two web sites to check: www.ed.gov/studentaid and www.students.gov. For hearing impaired students, the Center has a toll-free TDD. The number is 800-730-8913, or contact the Center by e-mail at sfamail@ncs.ed.gov. Students may also contact them at: Student Financial Assistance, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 84, Washington D.C. 20044-0084.

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ALWAYS Contact Wolfner Library, 1-800-392-2614, when:

• your name, address, or telephone number changes;
• your machine malfunctions or doesn't play properly;
• your machine becomes lost or is stolen;
• your books stop coming;
• you have a question about your service;
• you need information on titles, subjects, or authors;
• you want to request books or magazines;
• you wish to have your services put on hold;
• you wish to discontinue service;
• you want statistics, research, or reference on any subject or topic.

Wolfner NEWS is a quarterly publication of the Secretary of State.

Matt Blunt
Secretary of State

Sara Parker
State Librarian

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Wolfner NEWS is available in large print, braille, or on cassette. If you would like to receive an alternate format, please call the library at 800-392-2614.

REMEMBER: WOLFNER LIBRARY BOOK LOAN PERIOD IS SIX (6) WEEKS